LEIGH & DISTRICT

2004 was a disappointing year when the Leigh Ladies League withdrew from the competition citing a male bias with the choice of venue. One assumes this relates to the vast size of the bowling green and a myth that ladies are incapable of playing the longer marks. This theory is somewhat dubious as Maggie Jones achieved a semi-final place in 2002 and in the years to come the ladies have often  progressed to the later stages of the competition.

​

The Atherleigh Ladies League continued to support the competition and still do to the present day.

​

However the surprise player of the day was Joe Monaghan. After losing the previous year in the first round to eventual winner Albert Prescott, Joe was determined to set the record straight. Finding himself in the preliminary round he disposed of Arthur Bates (13), Ronnie Blackledge(16) in round one,  the ever present John Smith (20) in round 2, Frank Naylor (8) in the semi-final, before the prelim jinx stuck again when he only managed a meagre 7. The winner who played superb all day was Jimmy Glover. Jimmy beat Maggie Jones (15) in round one, Alan Mason (15) in round two, Norman Abbott (9) and finished off in  style seeing off Joe Monaghan (7) to become a worthy winner.​